Thursday, October 26, 2017  
BGSU biologists lead rapid response to Maumee River algae bloom | Students embrace, learn from other cultures
The Maumee River during the September cyanobacterial bloom.
BGSU BIOLOGISTS LEAD RAPID RESPONSE TO SURPRISE ALGAE BLOOM IN MAUMEE RIVER

In late September, during an unusual heat wave, Toledoans became alarmed when the Maumee River turned a deep green, like a velvet ribbon snaking its way northeast to Lake Erie. The potentially toxic cyanobacterial bloom causing the murky discoloration, commonly referred to as blue-green algae, was also unusual in that these blooms typically occur in the lake and not the river, except for in spring and early summer. Memories of a toxic cyanobacterial bloom in 2014 that caused a water emergency in Toledo stirred concern for the area’s drinking water supply, and several municipal public water systems, including Napoleon, Bowling Green and Defiance, and food service industries such as the Campbell Soup Co. in Napoleon that use the Maumee River as a water source reached out for data on bloom conditions.

Bowling Green State University biologists swiftly created a plan to identify and quantify the cyanotoxins — toxins produced by cyanobacteria — as well as genetically quantify the potentially toxic cyanobacteria in this bloom to assess its risk to the regional water treatment plants and industries. Working with a team of collaborators from the University of Toledo, the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Defiance College, they drafted a Rapid Response Proposal and received funding from the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to collect samples and conduct the analyses.

Leading the project was Dr. Timothy Davis, a new faculty member at BGSU but a longtime collaborator of Drs. Michael McKay, the Ryan Professor of Biological Sciences, and George Bullerjahn, Professor of Research Excellence. They and their colleagues on the Maumee River response have studied the algae situation in Lake Erie, including Sandusky Bay, for many years and were well positioned to divide up the necessary tasks, such as sampling and analysis.

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Celebrating their achievements with President Mary Ellen Mazey (center) are (left to right) Chelsea Caswell, Taylor Nicholson, Wing Sze Liu, Cheyenne Culbertson, Garrett Frye, Summer McVicker, Alexis Allen, Shaunda Brown, Ayanna Byers and Christina Moore.
BGSU STUDENTS EMBRACE, LEARN FROM OTHER CULTURES

Bowling Green State University students are truly “embracing global engagement,” studying around the world to expand their skills and understanding. At this fall’s “Embracing Global Engagement: Internships, Service- and Experiential Learning Symposium,” nearly 50 students shared their experiences in oral and poster presentations. The winners were recognized at an Oct. 17 ceremony where they received an original piece of glass art presented by President Mary Ellen Mazey.

Attendees at the ceremony heard from Steven Brittan, president of the Studio Arts College International, in Florence, Italy, an education abroad program in which BGSU participates.

“Travelling abroad as part of one of the BGSU programs is often a life-changing experience for the students, and it was wonderful to see both undergraduate and graduate students sharing this year their amazing overseas experiences with the BGSU community at our annual Embracing Global Engagement Conference,” said Dr. Cordula Mora, director of the Center for Undergraduate Research and Scholarship, which hosted the symposium and awards.

The winners’ international education experiences ranged from Hungary to Germany to China to South Africa and from art to aquatic biology.

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"Live at Howard’s” - The Blade
Mark Kelly presentation - 13abc, 13abc, The Blade, Sentinel-Tribune
Oktoberfest - Sentinel-Tribune
Student participate, watch mock crash - WTOL
Candidate forum - WTOL, Sentinel-Tribune
Clarence Page to speak at BGSU - Sentinel-Tribune, BG Independent News
Mruk named APA fellow - Sandusky Register, Norwalk Reflector

WINTER WHEAT FESTIVAL CELEBRATES LITERARY CAMARADERIE

“Winter Wheat: The Mid-American Review Festival of Writing” celebrates its 17th anniversary Nov. 2-4. “Winter Wheat” is a celebration of literary camaraderie among writers and readers, and remains the only festival/conference of its kind in the region.

The festival will draw 300 students, faculty, alumni, community members and other writers from Ohio and beyond. It also is being held in conjunction with the annual conference of the International Symposium for Poetic Inquiry (ISPI).

The conference will take place on the Bowling Green campus and will include guest readings, nearly 50 writing workshops, question-and-answer sessions with authors, a book fair of literary journals and presses, and an open mic opportunity. The Thursday night (Nov. 2) reading will be held in Prout Chapel; on Friday and Saturday, the festival moves to the Bowen-Thompson Student Union.

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OBITUARIES
Elmer Spreitzer, 80, a professor emeritus of sociology, died Oct. 21 in Defiance, Ohio. A specialist in sport sociology, he taught at BGSU from 1969-93.

CALLING ALL FACULTY/STAFF EXPERTS

The Office of Marketing and Communications handles requests from the media and area organizations for faculty and staff experts to speak on various topics. The University also uses a service that helps link reporters with expert sources. These requests tend to have more of a national focus and often correspond with a timely national event (e.g., the death of a celebrity, a natural disaster, politics and other breaking news).

If you are available to help us fulfill these requests, please complete the following form. Completion of this form gives us permission to release your information to the media.

Please call Amber Stark at 372-8582 if you have questions or need to update your information after submission.


IN BRIEF

Economist and former high-ranking Russian official Andrei Illarionov will speak at the University at 4:30 p.m. this afternoon (Oct. 26). His presentation, “What the Kremlin Wants,” will provide insight into Russian political, economic and foreign policy objectives under President Vladimir Putin.

“How to Reform a Drunk” and “The Four Note Opera” open Bowling Green Opera Theater’s 2017-18 season on Nov. 3 and Nov. 5. Directed by Dr. Geoffrey Stephenson, Department of Theatre and Film, the two short operas bring humor and wit to the Kobacker Hall stage in Moore Musical Arts Center.

Learn more In Brief